Faces from the small screen, gone in ’09

GETTY IMAGESLate film actress Brittany Murphy provided the voice of Luanne on "King of the Hill" for 13 seasons.Before we turn the page to 2010, it’s time to look back at some of the notable people from the world of television who died this year.
As always, this list can’t hope to be all-inclusive, but among the biggest, in chronological order:

Patrick McGoohan (Jan. 13; age 80): Parlayed his fame as the dashing star of "Secret Agent" (or, as it was known in England, "Danger Man") into the ’60s cult classic "The Prisoner."

Farrah Fawcett (June 25; age 62): One of the original "Charlie’s Angels," a huge sex symbol of the ’70s who reinvented herself as a respected TV-movie actress in the ’80s.

Michael Jackson (June 25; age 50): Best-known for his albums, but his music videos both helped integrate MTV and raised the bar for the kind of artistry the form allowed.

Gale Storm (June 27; age 87): One of TV’s earliest sitcom stars, she appeared in "My Little Margie" and "The Gale Storm Show" in the ’50s.

Billy Mays (June 28; age 50): Ubiquitous, hyperactive TV pitchman, who in his final months starred in a reality show called "PitchMen."

Karl Malden (July 1; age 97): Won an Oscar for "A Streetcar Named Desire," but very successful on the small screen, where he starred in ’70s cop show "The Streets of San Francisco" and in a memorable series of American Express ads, reminded viewers, "Don’t leave home without it."

Walter Cronkite (July 17; age 92): The gold standard of TV anchormen, was so respected and powerful in his ’60s and ’70s heyday that Lyndon Johnson reportedly said (after Cronkite delivered an editorial against our presence in Vietnam), "If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America."

Robert Novak (Aug. 18; age 78): One of the most influential (and controversial) newspaper pundit-turned-TV pundits, he was a staple on CNN shows such as "Crossfire," and "The Capital Gang."

Larry Gelbart (Sept. 11; age 81): One of Sid Caesar’s amazing stable of writers in the ’50s, Gelbart would bounce between TV, movies and theater for decades, adapting "M*A*S*H" into a long-running, Emmy-winning hit, and later writing acclaimed TV movies such as "Barbarians at the Gate."

Paul Burke (Sept. 13; age 83): Nominated twice for an Emmy for his role on ’60s cop show "Naked City," and also co-starred in "Twelve O’Clock High."

Patrick Swayze (Sept. 14; age 57): Best known for his movies, but had impressive TV legacy that included miniseries "North and South," his final role as an undercover FBI agent on "The Beast," and a classic "SNL" sketch with him and Chris Farley as auditioning Chippendales dancers.

Henry Gibson (Sept. 14; age 73): Character actor best-known as a regular on "Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In," and in later years, played a "Boston Legal" judge.

Vic Mizzy (Oct. 17; age 93): Songwriter who composed the irresistible theme songs to "The Addams Family" and "Green Acres."

Soupy Sales (Oct. 22; age 83): Beloved TV comedian and children’s TV star who memorably got in trouble when he (jokingly) invited his young viewers to take money out of their parents’ wallets and send it to him

Carl Ballantine (Nov. 3; age 92): Comic-magician who was a regular on "McHale’s Navy."

Brittany Murphy (Dec. 20; age 32): Movie actress who also provided the voice of Luanne on "King of the Hill" for 13 seasons.
Alan Sepinwall may be reached at asepinwall@starledger.com, or at 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, N.J., 07102-1200. Include your full name and hometown.